The papers of U.S. District Court judge Gerhard Alden Gesell (60,000 items; 1956-93) [catalog record] include materials on United States v. Vuitch (1971), an important abortion case that laid the groundwork for Roe v. Wade. Also of interest is Gesell's sentencing file (1968-92), which reflects the vast economic and demographic changes in the District
of Columbia over a twenty-year period and contains valuable social data about families, crime, the judicial system, and race
relations.

Joining the papers of federal judges are those of several state judges. Ben B. Lindsey (95,000 items; 1886-1954) [catalog record] was a judge and social reformer who helped to develop the juvenile court system in Colorado and California. Lindsey corresponded
with many women reformers, and his subject files concern child labor laws, penal reform, women's suffrage, birth control,
marriage, divorce, sex education and hygiene, and the Women's Protective League.

Charles Mason, justice of the Iowa territorial supreme court recorded in his diaries, 1836-82, located in the Charles Mason Remey Family Papers (1,225 items; 1778-1949; bulk 1855-1932) [catalog record], his work on behalf of women's rights, including his support of equal pay for equal work.